Mike Wallace knows he’s a great player

Posted by Josh Alper on December 2, 2013, 7:16 AM EDT

AP

Wide receiver Mike Wallace’s first season with the Dolphins hasn’t been an overwhelming success.

We’ve heard more about why Wallace isn’t putting up big numbers than anyone expected when the Dolphins signed him to a big deal as a free agent and Wallace hasn’t shied away from expressing his frustration with his role at various points this season. There was none of that on Sunday, though, as Wallace had seven catches for 82 yards and a touchdown to help beat the Jets.

“This is the time when you’ve got to be the best you can be,” Wallace said, via the Miami Herald. “It’s December. I’ve had enough time to get adjusted. It’s the time for me to be the player I know I am, no matter [what]. Just block out everything and play football. I’m a great player, I know that. It’s all that really matters. … Let’s call a spade a spade.”

Wallace had a strong game in the loss to the Panthers in Week 12 as well and has picked up more than a quarter of his receiving yards on the season over the last two weeks. More production like that in the final four games would give a serious boost to the Dolphins’ chances of snatching a Wild Card spot.

timmons94 says:
Dec 2, 2013 8:38 AM
Mike Wallace knows he is paid like a great player , not bad for a 1 trick pony
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False. The tired one trick pony argument is because he can only run a go route. Either watch the game or keep your opinions to yourself because his touchdown was on a 30 yard screen pass.

Most people here are going to be crying “diva” because he’s confident in his ability. I can’t wait!

lingsun54 says:
Dec 2, 2013 8:23 AM
Nothing says “great player” like being 26th in receiving yards.
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Mike Wallace started the season off slow and Dolphins fans aren’t giving him pass for that. But he is putting it together and the playcalling has gotten slightly better (though not much) to get Wallace the ball more often.

He’s on pace for slightly over 1,000 yards. While it’s not amazing, people have to account for the fact that Tannehill is good at spreading the ball around and not always looking for one guy. Hartline is also on pace for 1,000 yards, Charles Clay is on pace for a little under 800 yards, and Gibson was contributing before he got injured.

Dec 2, 2013 8:09 AM
In my mind, great players do everything well…catch, run, block, etc. They especially don’t WATCH Antonio Cromartie make an easy int. on a pop-up because the qb got hit.
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Now this I can agree with. That was a poor effort by Wallace to break up the play. I don’t understand why you don’t just tackle Cromartie before the ball gets there. OPI, but so what? It’s not like it was even possible for a Dolphins receiver to catch that pass.

markeyh says:Dec 2, 2013 11:17 AM

I too felt he should have done whatever it took to not let him get the INT….. I am sure they will make that clear to him. The penalty would have been better than allowing the INT. But Tannehill needs to do a better job of throwing the ball period.

Wallace has looked like every other WR on the Dolphins over the last 10 years now. painfully average. where is this super dooper speed I kept hearing about?! I’ve seen several plays where Wallace catches the ball on a crossing route, and I’m expecting him to blast off down the field but he is caught from behind every time. not worth the $$$. we could get 2 or 3 quality o-linemen for what they spend on him.

Not great but can be of he had a better QB or at least a QB that’s not handcuffed by an incompetent coaching staff!!!

markeyh says:Dec 2, 2013 12:32 PM

Funny thing is if Wallace was on some other team (Reggie Bush) and playing lights out you same haters would be questioning why Miami did not sign him. Wallace with a more experienced veteran QB in Miami would have over 10+ TD’s and over 1000 yards this season.

PeterKingLovesCoqAVin says:Dec 2, 2013 12:34 PM

Such a one-trick pony that he caught a pass on pretty much every route except the 9 on Sunday…

We lose…. You complain…. We win …… You complain. The guy has been a class act all year. I have watched him get over thrown and under thrown all year – he could easily have had 10 TDs. 4 alone last week when he repeatedly beat the corner over and over.

I love how the steelers fans are the ones hating on him you can tell that by looking at most of their names and Mike Wallace doesn’t have great numbers this year he has good numbers but he is a great player he would have well over 1000 yards and 8 TD’s alone this year with a veteran QB. Expect another big game from him against a mediocre steelers defense at best with a struggling secondary

I love how the steelers fans are the ones hating on him you can tell that by looking at most of their names and Mike Wallace doesn’t have great numbers this year he has good numbers but he is a great player he would have well over 1000 yards and 8 TD’s alone this year with a veteran QB. Expect another big game from him against a mediocre steelers defense at best with a struggling secondary
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Mike Wallace is an average receiver at best. He gets by with his speed and that alone. His route running is putrid, he has cymbals for hands and he is afraid of contact, from initial press coverage to running across the middle. That is NOT a “great receiver.”

And in another story, those attempting to alibi Wallace would be lauding Tannehill for his growth and progression. Now suddenly, he needed to have a “veteran QB” to maximize Wallace’s ability?

If he were so great, he would have come down with that ball and they beat Carolina. Same in the Baltimore and New England games. Great WRs make those plays and their teams win.

This guy is high on himself. And acts like a baby if the ball is just slightly off. Guys like Megatron jump and get that freakn thing. He stops in mid stride and lowers his head in grief without even the attempt to bat the ball down.

Mike Wallace is a great player… when he wants to be. Yes he is fast and can catch the long passes but how many times does he catch the short passes or go out of his way to catch a pass? 2 out of 15 times? Honestly, Brian Hartline is a better receiver. He is more reliable. If Wallace stops talking the talk and starts walking the walk then maybe he can be a top NFL receiver. But Wallace is overrated and Hartline is underrated, as is Matthews. I remember that game against the Bucs that they lost where Matthews was the only receiver making plays and got no recognition for it. Anyway, bottom line is Wallace is a decent player with the “great player” potential, when he gets his head out of his butt.

crownofthehelmet says:Dec 2, 2013 3:51 PM

Wallace chose #11 becuase he kept forgetting his number, and when looking in the mirror to remember, all other numbers confused him. Someone already had #88.

Mr.Wright
I agree he has to come down with those passes against Carolina and Baltimore there was no drop against the Patriots.But you said he’s average and getting by with his speed.That statements incorrect he’s caught what 3 or 4 flys this season he lacks a QB who can hit him in stride on the deep passes even his HC said that.Can Tannehill fix that of course he can in the future will he is the question right now Wallace is playing like an average WR because he doesn’t have the QB to get him the deep pass so right now he’s playing average without really taking advantage of his speed if he can take advantage that he will be a great WR

Wallace was average in Pittsburgh, he didn’t regress or PROgress this year because Tannehill doesn’t quite have Roethlisberger’s arm.

ishudbgm says:Dec 2, 2013 5:58 PM

phinfan says:
Dec 2, 2013 3:22 PM
This guy is high on himself. And acts like a baby if the ball is just slightly off. Guys like Megatron jump and get that freakn thing.

Last time I checked MEGAtron is 6’5 and has one of the best verticals EVER for a wr in addition to a QB (stafford) that has played with him for more than 12 games and has a rocket launcher for an arm. But just in case you missed those great Turkey day games, megatron got beat by sam sheilds for an int! Just saying….stay classy Miami!!! #FINSup

In a pass-happy league, where getting shut out completely for 3-4 games and catching a deep ball on the rate of once every other game can get you 1,000 yards? It doesn’t mean what it used to mean. I’ve sat and watched Victor Cruz get shut out of three games this year, not really have but one explosive game and still going to have more yards than Wallace, and I wouldn’t call it a great season in today’s NFL.

Still does not explain why in two games he didn’t react to fight for the ball on two misques by tannehill. He gave no effort… My comparison to megatron is ‘he is the best’ period and wallace is not that

Most of you here are bashing on the guy, yeah he should’ve put in more effort against the Cromartie int, but he is limited by his QB. I’m a diehard fan and I haven’t missed a snap this season. Tannehill has been nothing short of terrible on the deep ball! He has under thrown Wallace every week it seems, with the occasional overthrow. Even against Carolina when he caught the long ball he had to nearly stop to wait on the ball and still managed to somehow score a TD. Wallace could easily have atleast 10 TDs thus far in the season, thats if Tannehill could put the ball on him some of the time instead of never. Yet Wallace is the one being blamed for a poor season, tired of all the $60 million haters. Tannehill needs to take the blame here…